Machine for dyeing articles



MACHINE FOR DYEING ARTICLES Filed June 21, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 g- 1942- H. c. WOLFENDEN MACHINE FOR DYEING ARTICLES Filed June 21,

1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,0 o 0 a a a a, a w B Y) 4 {VII w Aug. 11, 1942. H. c. WOLFENDEN MACHINE FOR DYEING ARTICLES Filed June 21, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 EEIIQP:

H. C. WOLFENDEN MACHINE FOR DYEING ARTICLES Filed June 21, 1940 Aug. 11-, 1942.

Patented Aug. 11, 1942 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR DYEING Anrrcms Harry 0. Wolfenden, Attleboro, Mass. Application June 21, 1940, Serial No. 341,675

1 Claim. (01. 68-161) My present invention is a novel and improved dyeing machine wherein yarns, cloth, and similar articles may be treated, colored, and dyed in an expeditious, efllcient, and economical manner.

Heretofore it has been customary to dye yarn, cloth, and the like by applying the same to rotating frames with dye thru dye-colored liquid, and usually with the addition of steam or heat applied thereto. Thus, in a dye house, vast masses of steam emanate from the dyeing machines, causing considerable difilculty at times in the dye house for the operatives, and considerable damage to the structure of the dye house itself.

Efforts have been made to effect the dyeing operation in a closed receptacle which would, to a large extent, eliminate the difliculties heretofore experienced in the escaping of steam and moisture, and which would handle the more delicate dyes as well as finer yarns and articles.

It is also well known that the dyeing operation, if it can be performed in a partial vacuum and thus permit the liquid to be in a boiling state at a temperature less than 212 F. is beneficial to the articles being treated because of the lesser degree of heat to which such articles are subiected.

Also, it is important to keep the liquid containing the dye in agitation, and for this purpose steam or air has been utilized to effect a bubbling operation in the receptacle, and various combinations of steam for heating and outside air for creating the bubbling have been atpted.

None of these prior devices have been entirely satisfactory, and my present invention is to improve and perfect a closed dyeing receptacle, particularly adapted for treating finer yarns and the more delicate fibres in an efilcientand economical. manner to conserve'the heat or steam employed, andto eifect the dyeing operation in a receptacle to which there is a vacuum-creating tendency and also to produce an agitation by bubbling or forcing created air and vapor thru the bottom portion of the liquid by supplying said heated vapors from the upper portion of the re-.

ceptacle itself, thus effecting a heat circulation up to the proper temperature, I can shut off the steam supply either automatically or by hand,

'and the dyeing operation performed for a con- 'siderable time without cooling the contents.

A further important feature of my present invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the yarn-holding stick and, furthermore, in the rotative action of such stick to prevent stick marks or undyed portions on the yarn or article being treated.

If the yarn, when hung in a dyeing machine of any sort, is not lifted or removed from the sticks retaining the same, there will be an undyed portion or stick-mark which is a serious defect. My invention eliminates the danger .of such stick marks.

Furthermore, I have devised a novel, light, metallic stick member comprising a plurality of narrow rods of stainless steel or other non-corrosive metal, which will not be afl'ected by the automatically operated, to effect a rotation, or

partial rotation, of these carrying sticks so as to still further insure a complete and uniform dyeing operation and eliminate all possible danger of stick marks.

A still further feature consists in providing means which will eliminate the danger of skeins' of yarns from becoming tangled, knotted, en;- twined, or the like during the agitating and bubbling action. By supplying heated vapor thru In carrying out my inventionI provide a suitable tankor receptacle to receive a framework, 1

which may be raised over and lowered into the receptacle, as desired.

This framework is of non-corrosive metal and l the tank or receptacle is also of non-corrosive in a closed manner without cooling the heated liquid, as was formerly the case where outside air was employed.

7 Thus, by means of my improved apparatus and by my present novel method of operating a dyeing machine of the closed type, I am enabledto conserve the heat required, and after the liquid and contents of the machine have been brought material, or is lined with the same. I find that stainless steel is suitable for this work, as it neither is injured by the dye nor injures the dyed material in contact therewith. Such framework is adapted to carry a considerable number of sticks, each stick carrying a plurality bi skeins, and said framework is preferably adjustable. for different lengths of skeins or material being dyed and thus permit a lower level of liquid in the receptacle where shorter skeins are used.

The yam-carrying sticks are of novel construction and, preferably, include a pair of discs united by three or more thin, non-corrosive metal rods, and I provide means to automatically rotate or oscillate these sticks in unison irrespective of the length of the skein or other material.

I also provide similar rotated sticks to hold the bottom portions of each skein against displacement to eliminate tangling during the hubbling operation. Suitable heating means, such as steam pipes, are supplied in the bottom of the receptacle and an air-tight covering for the top is also applied. Near the top I provide an outlet with an exhaust fan, blower, or other means to draw from the top of the interior of the closed receptacle the vapors, steam, and heated air and conduct same thru a series of perforated pipes in the bottom of the receptacle adjacent the heating pipes.

Thus, when the receptacle is filled with liquid and dye, and a loaded frame lowered therein, immersing the yarn in the dyeing liquid, securing the cover, and supplying the steam for heating, the agitating means consists in withdrawing from the top of the receptacle, above the level of the liquid, the heated vapors and forcing same into and thru the bottom portion where they produce a bubbling and agitating action as. these heated vapors rise thru the liquid dye.

By thus preheating the bubble-creating and liquid-agitating vapors, I am enabled to conser-ve heat, and, with the liquid-tight cover and receptacle, the contents of the receptacle when once heated to the desired degree will maintain this heat for a substantial and considerable length of time, even though the steam is shut oil. Thus, I can supply steam to the receptacle and then shut'it oil while in operation and -it will continue to operate at an emcient temperature. Furthermore, by the operation of withdrawing the vapors from above the liquid level in my type of closed receptacle, there is a decided tendency to create a vacuum within the receptacle and, thus, to maintain the emciency of the heated liquid without a substantial lowering of the temperature because of this vacuum-creating means. Suitable liquid and dye-filling attachments are provided and mechanism for effecting a predetermined rotation or oscillation of the yarncarrying sticks is also provided.

Both rotating means and the fan blower, or circulating device, are readily controlled either by hand or automatically by controls for a motor .which may be attached to the cover, and the frame also may be attached to the covers so that the raising or lowering of the same is readily.

accomplished.

illustrating the steam-heating, bubble producing and dye-supply pipes;

Fig. 3 is a side eievational view looking from the right of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side el'evational view of the right receptacle.

side of the tank or receptacle looking from the front of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the yarn-carryin frame and attached cover;

Fig. 6 is a view partly in cross-section showing the side of the yam-carrying frame and a portion of the attached cover;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of my novel time of yam-carrying stick;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of the receptacle when closed and the framework in position with the yarn or material omitted, for clarity;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary and crosssectional view illustrating the attachments and operating means for rotating the yarn-carrying stlcks,'and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view illustrating the spring-holding means retaining the bottom series of yam-holding sticks in position when attached to the frame.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modification wherein a large number of articlecarrying sticks are fitted to the frame by staggering the same.

As shown in the drawings, for illustrative purposes, a suitable tank is provided having a base I and sides 2-2, with an open top to which a cover 3 is adapted to be fitted in liquid-tight and air-tight relation by resting on rubber gaskets 5 fitted in grooves 8 in the top edge portions of the sides 2. A plurality of lugs 1-1 are attached to the cover 3 with notches thru which the shanks of clamping screw 8-8 pass. each screw being pivoted at l to a bracket i0 secured to the sides in alignment with the lugs-l, a rotatable thumb nut l2 being threaded on the shank 2 of each screw and bearing on the lugs so as to clamp the cover in tightly assembled position, and forming a tight enclosure on the While. I have herein shown the receptacle as built up of wood, or other suitable material, and lined with metal, the same of course may be made entirely of metal. In the particular form shown in the drawings, a metal lining I! of rustproof material lines the side and bottom of the interior of the tank. The interior of the tank or receptacle is supplied with a series of heating pipes 20 from an inlet 2| thru an end 2, and an outlet 22 being connected with any suitable source of steam supply, shut-off valves as indicated at 23 being also provided to turn the heat on or off, as desired, and to permit the apparatus to operate without steam supply to conserve the steam and reduce expense, as above mentioned.

These steam pipes 20 are preferably arranged in the extreme bottom portion of the tank, as shown, and in any suitable radiating capacity for the tank, quantity of liquid, and work desired. I also provide a series or set of dye-carrying pipes, as indicated at 2525, here shown as being a pair 'of pipes arranged at oppo ite side portions of the bottom of the receptacle,

which pipes are to receive supplies of dyeing maof supply. As illustrated, either hot or cold water can be supplied thru a pipe 35 by branch connections 31 and 38, see Fig. 3. An outlet and stopper 38 near one comer of the tank serves to drain the same for cleaning and changing the dye liquid.

In order to provide a circulation of the heated vapors and air accumulating in the closed tank during the dyeing operation by my present process, I arrange an outlet near the top of the tank above the extreme level of the liquid for any dyeing operation to be formed' therein.

Such outlet is shown at 48, from which an exhaust'pipe 4| leads to an exhaust fan,v pump, or the like 42, and thence downwardly thru a conduit 43 and connecting pipe 44' to the inlet 45 thru substantially the center of the bottom portion of the tank.

For this purpose I provide the base I with a horizontal channel 46 and a central manhole 41 to give access to the assembling of the conduit and inlet thru an elbow 48, see Figs. 1 and 8.. The inlet 45 entering the bottom of the tank substantially in the center of the same is connected with a central distributing pipe 5|! from which radiate a series of conduits 5|, 52, 53, and 54, see Fig. 2. Preferably, the opposite side conduits 53 and 54 extending widthwise and lengthwise of the tank area each connected. at their outer ends with conduits 55 and 56 extending lengthwise of the tank and in parallelism with the connecting pipes 5| and 54, see Figs. 2 and 8. Any other suitable arrangement can be made, if desired, but I wish to supply a plurality of air and vapor-conducting pipes .with outlets therethru spread over the bottom of thetank to effect the bubbling operation up thru the liquid.

Each of these pipes 5|, 5 2, 53, -54, 55 and 55 are provided with a series of small holes or openings, as indicated at 60 in Fig. 1. I

In operation, with the cover closed and the dyeing liquid at a suitable level to immerse the articles to be dyed, as indicated at 6|, Fig. 1, the'operation of the fan 48 draws the heated air and vapors from the interior of the tank above the level GI and forces the same into the bottom portion of the liquid thru the delivery device containing the openings 50, thus producing a constant agitation throughout the entire mass of the liquid dye bubbling up therethru from the bottom to the top surface, thus maintaining the dye in agitation as well as the yarn suspended in the tank and being heated, and, 'in effect, a closed circuit pumping around from the top of the tank to the bottom. No cooling efiect from this bubbling operation is produced and, hence, the steam supply having once brought the interior of the tank to the proper temperature can be shut off for considerable period of'time.

Furthermore, the operation of the fan 42 tends to create a slight vacuum in the interior of. the

tank, thus facilitating the dyeing action at lower temperatures than 212 and, hence, helps eliminate the danger of damage to delicate yarns being treated.

While the bubbling action effected by the series of openings 50 in the delivery pipes'is substantially uniform, I may, if desired, apply a perfosteam, dye-supply, and air-supply pipes, which plate may rest on a series of blocks 6565 and constitutes a protecting and distributing member.

I consider that this feature of a closed and heated circulating system in'dyeing apparatus of this kind is most important, increasing the efficiency of the dyeing operation, cutting down the time, increasing the penetrating eilect of ,the dyeing material, conserving heat, saving steam, and also obtaining the benefit of the dyeing operation in a partial vacuum.

Any suitable means may be supplied for placing the articles to be dyed in my improved treating tank. Preferably, and as herein shown, I provide a metal framework also of non-corrosive metal like thelining I5, which framework has a capacity for vertical adjustment so that shorter lengths can be dyed in shallow depths of water than the extreme high level shown at BI and,

, thus, conserve heat and dy when shorter-articles are being treated. Also, I provide such a framework, preferably, with my improved type of rotating yarn-carrying stick, and I rotate the same automatically and at any height to which the frame is adjusted, as will be explained; While such a framework may be handled, lowered into,

positioned in, and raised from the tank in any convenient manner, I prefer to attach the same to a cover 3.

v For this purpose I secure to theunderneath part of the cover 3 suitable frame members 15, to which are secured four depending angle irons.

15 with suitable clearance between the outside of the same and the lining l5 of the interior of the tank, so that the entire frame and cover may I be readily lowered into and lifted above the top of the tank for filling the frame with the articles to be dyed, and removing said articles therefrom after the dyeing operation.

The top portions of these vertical side frames 16 are rigidly secured to the cover 3 and crossframes 15 and the bottom portions are held by Adjustably secured lengthwise of the tank and to the vertically extending frames 16 are a pair of lengthwise horizontal frames 80.

Any suitable adjustment can be provided to=unite these fames'80 with the vertical frames 16, but, as herein illustrated, I have provided a slot 8| in each of the vertical frames and a pair of ,bolts 82 thru the end portions of each horizontal frame- 80, which bolts engage the slots ill, and thus the lengthwise frames may be raised or lowered within the limits afforded by the length of the slots 8| and, thereupon, the bolts 82 tightened and each top frame 80 is held in adjusted position. A corresponding lower lengthwise frame 84 is also provided andthis can be rigidly secured to the lower portions .of the vertically extending frame's'fIG as by bolts 85."

The-top lengthwise frames 88 are fitted to receive andholdthe yarn-carrying sticks, which:

sticks are rotated and, similarly, the lower lengthwise frames 84 are adapted to receive and carry yarn-engaging sticks so as to hold the yarn masses and prevent tangling, knotting, and damage during the dyeing action, and particularly because of the effect of the bubbling operation upwardly thru the liquid in the tank.

While this framework can be utilized to carry any standard type of yam-carrying stick,'I prefer to utilize my novel type of rod construction as best shown in Fig. '7. My improved stick conrated plate 63, having a large number of holes 54 therethru, positioned directly over all; the

tially at equal distances around the periphery of each disc 88 and 89 and secured thereto and by fitting thru holes or recesses in the discs and being welded therein. These rods and discs are also of non-corrosive metal. The disc 89 is fitted with a square or other angular projection 9I to fit within the interior of the gear wheel so that the gear may turn said stick; while the opposite disc 88 is provided with a hub or axle 92 to fit within the bearing. Each hub 92 is provided with a groove 93 to receive a locking pin 94-94 carried by one of the frames 80 in which these hub ends are to be fitted, the opposite frame 80 having recesses thru which the squared end SI of the driving portion may be fitted.

As shown in Fig. 10, the frame 80 in which the hub or axle members 92 of each stick are attached has a series of U-shaped openings 95, so

that these axles may rest therein and then be locked in the lower part of the U by the rods 94, which latter are actuated by springs 91 mounted between upstanding flanges 98-98 on a plate I secured to the frame 80 adjacent each U-shaped opening 95, in position to permit the rod 94 to be moved across the U-shaped opening engaging each groove 93, and thus locking this end of the stick in position.

A finger pin IOI is attached to each rod 94 to move the same backward against the spring 91 and this releases the hub 92 and permits withdrawal of this end of the stick. As a further locking means on the opposite side of the finger and spring, a flanged plate I02 is fitted with a recess into which the end of the sliding rod or bolt 94 fits to hold this end of the rotatable rod or stick in locked position.

If desired, I may add one or more braces, as shown at 99, Fig. '7, between the discs 88 and 89 to keep the rods 90 in proper spaced relation. It will be appreciated that my type of rotatable stick with a plurality of rods eliminates to a large degree the possibility of marking the yarn, or other material, hung thereon; but in order to still further eliminate the danger of such marking, as well also as to insure an even and uniform dyeing operation, I prefer to provide means which will rotate or oscillate the rods during the dyeir'ig operation.

Also, it may be desirable, and I have herein illustrated means to correspondingly rotate or oscillate the lower sticks in synchronism with the upper sticks. For this purpose, I provide a shaft I05 extending upwardly thru the top of the .cover I to the gear box I 06 operated by a motor IIO positioned adjacent thereto and secured on top of the cover, said shaft I05 extenda ing downwardly thru bearings in brackets H2 and I I3 bolted to the side of the end frame I8, see Fig. 5, which shaft has a sliding and telescoping connection, as indicated at iii, to permit the raising and lowering of the topmost lengthwise frame 80, the lower end of the shaft being also fitted to rotate thru bearings! and 8m alignment therewith near the lower portion of the frame.

A worm I20 is splined on the shaft I05 to tum therewith and slide thereon during'the raising and, lowering of the top lengthwise frame 80; and a similar worm I2I is keyed on the lower end of the shaft in alignment with the lower frame 84. Each of these worms mesh witha gear I22 mounted on studs I23, ,see Fig. 6, and each has a pinion I24 meshing with adjacent gears I2 5I29 III) aaoasu fitted on studs lengthwise of the cross-bars 99 and 84, said pinions and gears having a hollow central recess I28, see Fig. 9, into which the squared or angular end 9i of a stick fitted in the frame in alignment therewith will register. I may make these hollow centers of each pinion in the form of a separate hub I29 secured by a ii eadged bolt I90 for assembling purposes, see

With a set of these sticks provided with a series I of skeins of yarn I99, see Fig. 5, they are then fitted on the frame, first forcing the end block 9I on each end 99 into the recess I29 of an ad- Jacent gear, and then with the opposite end lowered into a notch 98 and locked in position with a sliding bolt or rod 94 in the opposite frame. Thereafter, a lower stick is threaded thru the skein yarns and, similarly, fitted in position in the lowermost frames 94, and thus the frame is loaded while the cover 9 is raised and the frame is above the tank. Thereupon, the frame is lowered into position in the tank, the cover resting on the gaskets I, the clamps swung into position and thumb nut I: rotated mghten the cover in air-tight relation to the In order to conveniently operate the cover and frame any suitable or desirable mechanism can be employed. As herein shown, I utilize a bail comprising a lifter I49 with four branch arms I4II4I extending to the four corners of the cover 9 secured to eye-bolts I42, set in crossbars I49 attached to the cover, or otherwise secured, and adapted to be raised or lowered by a pulley and any suitable source of power.

If it is desired to rotate the shaft I08, the motor IIII may be actuated therefor thru the gear box I98, which would also include a suitable reduction gear, but if it is desired to oscillate the shaft I98, I then provide a control box I44 which will automatically shift the rotation of the motor from one direction to the reverse, thus oscillating the shaft I08 and turning the sticks a predetermined number of times in one direction, and then in reverse direction during the time required for the treating action.

With the frame loaded with articles to be treated, such for example as skein yarns, and with the top frames 90 adjusted for the length of the yarn or other articles being thus dyed, the frame is first lowered into the tank, the cover clamped, liquid and dye either having been supplied beforehand, or then being supplied, together with additional liquid dye added from time to time as desired, and the steam turned on to heat the same, the motor is actuated to oscillate or rotate the yam-carrying sticks; and when a proper temperature has been reached or at any other tlme deemed suitable, the exhaust fan 42 is actuated, preferably by electrical means (not shown) and the vapor accumulating above the level 8i in the tank is drawn from the top and forced in, to, and thru the bottom portion of the liquid in the distributing pipes II to 89, flowing out of the holes 80 and upwardly thru the mass ,of liquid and thru the yarn being treated, thus keeping the entire contents in agitation.

Because the tank is thus closed, the heat is retained, and because I employ a closed circulating system, forcing preheated vapor into and thru the tank, the steam heating supply can be shut off for upwards of one-third the time requgerllnftzigilzhe treating action.

s e window I49, to permit inspection of the contents, is shown in the cover {but a similar window, or windows, can be, if desired, placed in the sides at any point, or points, which seem practicable. Also, I provide a pair of protecting rods I50 extending adjacent each end portion of each set of sticks, both those on the top frames 8H and the yarn skeins from Working near the end of each stick. These rods are conveniently secured thru the angle-iron frames by bolts as shown at I51, Figs. 1 and 5,

In Fig. 11 I have illustrated a modified construction wherein the lengthwise ,horizontal frames 80 are provided with a plurality of sets of opposite to permit the yarn-holding sticks to be positioned in staggered relation, thus enabling a frame to carry a larger quantity. of material being dyed. Thus, the apparatus can be utilized to be filled with a series or set of sticks in either the lowermost stick-carrying and rotating device, or topmost, or both, and in the latter case practically doubling the carrying capacity of the frame. Furthermore, this arrangement of an upper and lower set of sticks provides for a slight adjustment in the length of yarn or skeins being treated without manually adjusting the horizontal frames 80 to take care of same.

Thus my improved apparatus can be quickly adjusted for any size or length of skein ormaterial to be treated, is efliciently operated, conserving heat, saving time, penetrating the fibres more thoroughly, insuring a more lofty product, and acting in keeping the distortion of the fibres to a minimum more near like the original product and largely eliminating the matting or lower ones 84, as guards to keep the driving gears on one frame and slots on the,

snarling so prevalent with skein dyeing, modifying considerably the danger of stick marks and obtaining the advantages of the dyeing operation in a partial vacuum, and the fact that the maceptacle and to constitute a pressure-tight cover when in lowered position, means for locking said cover in air-tight relationship to the receptacle, a yam-carrying framework attached to said cover, said frame comprising two pairs of vertically extending members and two pairs of horizontally extending cross-members, the upper cross-member being secured to said vertical member with provision for vertical adjustment thereon, both cross-members carrying rotatable yamcarrying sticks, said sticks being removably attached to said cross-members, interlocking gears on one end of the sticks carried by one set of the cross-members, and means to rotate said gears from a suitable source of power carried on the outside of said upper cover in any spaced relation to which said cross-member may be adjusted on the vertical members.

HARRY 0. women.- 

